Doi Pui

Location:

Baan Doi Pui is Hmong community, located in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. The community is closed to Chiang Mai municipally; it takes only half an hour by car. Guests can visit the community on one day trip.

Formerly, Baan Doi Pui was cultivated opium. Originally, opium was cultivated on this land by a Hmong community which settled in Baan Pang Pa Ka village, Tambon Pong Yang, Amphur Mae Rim, Chiang Mai province. In 1953-1954, the Thai government sent soldiers to eradicate drugs in Pang Pa Ka village, and the community disintegrated. The villagers migrated to Baan Doi Pui.

In 1963, His majesty the King gave Thai nationality to the villagers and introduced them to lychee cultivation by offering 16 lychee trees for each household. As a result, the villagers stopped opium cultivation permanently in 1972.

There are lots of herbs and medicinal plants relating to the community’s spiritual and super-natural beliefs; e.g., opium, poison, herbal medicines and “Paim Dev” (a local herb used to relieve headaches or fever).

Hill Tribes Museum and Outdoor Museum; established in 1984, the museum illustrates the history of each Hill Tribe and their tools. There are also models of Hmong and Karen houses to show local ways of life. Guests can see local activities, e.g., Hmong and Karen mortar for pounding paddy to separate the grains from the chaffs - representing the community unity.

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Activities for guests:

Hmong livelihoods and local products:Hill Tribes Museum and Outdoor Museum visit. Guests can learn about Hmong history in Thailand, tools for living and Hmong local costumes. Guests will also see and shop the artworks, handicrafts of the Women’s Group and souvenirs;

Flowers Garden: See opium poppies, flowers and Thai Sakura. Enjoy a scenic view of the village surrounded by forests in hilly area. And visit a small waterfall garden in the village containing flowers, ornamental trees, and opium poppy. Guests can observe local way of Hmong livelihoods around the village;

Puppets show: This is one of the tourism activities that Doi Pui community maintains for guests. The puppets perform the life of Hmong people from birth until death, representing history and culture. Guests will understand about Hmong culture and tradition deeply.

Green Corner: People and Planet

Around Doi Pui village now is evergreen forest which evolve from generation two forests or Secondary forest. Formerly, the majority of the area had used for opium cultivation. Later on, the villagers have growing fruit instead of opium cultivation, and they try to conserve the forest area around. 35 years later, the Secondary forest is finally become and evergreen forest or first generation forest or Primary Forest.

Community also train young local tour guides for community and museums tour. Doi Pui village committee, which is responsible for ensuring community rules; one of the rules is that community members must wear Hmong costumes every day to make unity and conserve Hmong culture.